SRJC Course Outlines

10/9/2024 1:20:34 PMPSYC 1B Course Outline as of Summer 2025

Changed Course
CATALOG INFORMATION

Discipline and Nbr:  PSYC 1BTitle:  INTRO/RESEARCH METHODS  
Full Title:  Introduction to Psychological Research Methods
Last Reviewed:11/27/2023

UnitsCourse Hours per Week Nbr of WeeksCourse Hours Total
Maximum3.00Lecture Scheduled3.0017.5 max.Lecture Scheduled52.50
Minimum3.00Lab Scheduled06 min.Lab Scheduled0
 Contact DHR0 Contact DHR0
 Contact Total3.00 Contact Total52.50
 
 Non-contact DHR0 Non-contact DHR Total0

 Total Out of Class Hours:  105.00Total Student Learning Hours: 157.50 

Title 5 Category:  AA Degree Applicable
Grading:  Grade Only
Repeatability:  00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP
Also Listed As: 
Formerly:  PSYCH 1B

Catalog Description:
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In this course, students will survey various psychological research methods with an emphasis on research design, experimental procedures, descriptive methods, instrumentation, and the collection, analysis, interpretation, and reporting of research data. Students will also examine research design and methodology through an anti-discriminatory and anti-racist lens, including: a review of research in a variety of the subdisciplines of psychology; applications in classroom experiments, surveys, and systematic and naturalistic observations; and explore the lived experiences of California Community College students.

Prerequisites/Corequisites:
Course Completion of PSYC 1A; AND Course Completion of MATH 15 OR PSYC 9


Recommended Preparation:
Eligibility for ENGL 1A or equivalent

Limits on Enrollment:

Schedule of Classes Information
Description: Untitled document
In this course, students will survey various psychological research methods with an emphasis on research design, experimental procedures, descriptive methods, instrumentation, and the collection, analysis, interpretation, and reporting of research data. Students will also examine research design and methodology through an anti-discriminatory and anti-racist lens, including: a review of research in a variety of the subdisciplines of psychology; applications in classroom experiments, surveys, and systematic and naturalistic observations; and explore the lived experiences of California Community College students.
(Grade Only)

Prerequisites:Course Completion of PSYC 1A; AND Course Completion of MATH 15 OR PSYC 9
Recommended:Eligibility for ENGL 1A or equivalent
Limits on Enrollment:
Transfer Credit:CSU;UC.
Repeatability:00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP

ARTICULATION, MAJOR, and CERTIFICATION INFORMATION

Associate Degree:Effective:Inactive:
 Area:
 
CSU GE:Transfer Area Effective:Inactive:
 
IGETC:Transfer Area Effective:Inactive:
 
CSU Transfer:TransferableEffective:Fall 1981Inactive:
 
UC Transfer:TransferableEffective:Fall 1981Inactive:
 
C-ID:
 CID Descriptor: PSY 200 Introduction to Research Methods in Psychology SRJC Equivalent Course(s): PSYC1B

Certificate/Major Applicable: Major Applicable Course



COURSE CONTENT

Student Learning Outcomes:
At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:
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1. Critically read psychological research and identify basic methodologies such as experiment, observation, and survey.
2. Develop clear research question(s) and hypothesis(ses) and design.
3. Implement appropriate research methods following ethical standards to promote equity, justice, and inclusion.
4. Write a research paper using American Psychological Association (APA) format.
 

Objectives: Untitled document
At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:
1. Explain the basic principles of the scientific method and how it can be used to promote equity and justice.
2. Critically evaluate research reports with an emphasis on identifying bias and promoting social justice.
3. Write a literature review by synthesizing a body of research findings that includes diverse perspectives and populations.
4. Develop and test hypotheses that address questions with an emphasis on diversity and inclusion.
5. Demonstrate knowledge of general research designs, experimental and non-experimental methods, and standard research practices while considering diversity and inclusion in the design of studies.
6. Select appropriate research designs that consider equity and social justice to test hypotheses.
7. Explain the ethical treatment of human and animal participants in research and the institutional requirements for conducting research, including the importance of equity and inclusion and the history of bias within psychological research.
8. Assess the generalizability of study results and how the historical emphasis on Western, Educated, Industrial, Rich, Democratic (WEIRD) samples limit psychological knowledge.
9. Demonstrate proficiency in APA style and writing research reports that address diversity and inclusion in a clear and sensitive manner.

Topics and Scope
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I. Scientific Method
    A. Understand steps involved in conducting empirical research
         1. Writing research questions
         2. Developing hypotheses based on existing research
         3. Design studies to test hypotheses
         4. Data collection and analysis
II. Evaluation of Research Reports
    A. Case studies
    B. Meta-analyses
    C. Experimental studies
    D. Correlational studies
    E. Descriptive studies
III. Body of Research
    A. Literature Review
    B. Identifying relevant articles
    C. Understand method(s) utilized
    D. Identifying biases and issues of social justice
IV. Develop and Test Hypotheses
    A. Background research as basis for hypotheses development
    B. Appropriate use of Null (and Alternative), Directional, Non-Directional hypotheses
    C. Data collection and analysis
V. General Research Designs
    A. Quantitative
         1. Descriptive
         2. Correlational
         3. Quasi-experimental
         4. Experimental
         5. Longitudinal
         6. Mixed designs
    B. Qualitative
         1. Case studies
         2. Archival
         3. Observational
         4. Ethnography
         5. Phenomenology
         6. Focus groups
         7. Grounded Theory
         8. Interviews
    C. Mixed methods
    D. Indigenous
    E. Other ways of knowing
VI. Selecting Appropriate Research Designs
    A. Matching research question to research design
    B. Multiple research designs for a single research question
VII. Ethics
    A. Historical studies highlighting ethical boundaries
    B. Issues of social justice and protected groups
    C. Institutional Review Board (IRB)
    D. Risk/Benefit analysis
VIII. Generalizability of Results
    A. Sample vs population
    B. Types of samples
         1. Nonprobability sampling
             a. convenience
             b. snowball
         2. Probability sampling
             a. random
             b. stratified random
             c. proportionate
             d. cluster
    C. Western, Educated, Industrial, Rich, Democratic (WEIRD) sample limitations
IX. APA Style
    A. Journal article structure
    B. APA manuscript format
         1. literature review
         2. empirical report
    C. In-text citations
    D. Reference lists

Assignments:
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1. Read (25-35 pages per week) and recapitulate assigned material.
2. Homework and in-class assignments
3. Writing assignment(s) (1-3) including a research paper for a minimum of 1250 words each
4. Exam(s) (1-3) and final examination (1)
5. Oral presentations and/or group projects

Methods of Evaluation/Basis of Grade.
Writing: Assessment tools that demonstrate writing skill and/or require students to select, organize and explain ideas in writing.Writing
25 - 35%
Writing assignment(s)
Problem solving: Assessment tools, other than exams, that demonstrate competence in computational or non-computational problem solving skills.Problem Solving
10 - 20%
Homework and in-class assignments
Skill Demonstrations: All skill-based and physical demonstrations used for assessment purposes including skill performance exams.Skill Demonstrations
0 - 0%
None
Exams: All forms of formal testing, other than skill performance exams.Exams
25 - 35%
Exam(s) and final examination
Other: Includes any assessment tools that do not logically fit into the above categories.Other Category
10 - 20%
Oral presentation and/or group projects


Representative Textbooks and Materials:
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Methods in Behavioral Research. 15th ed. Cozby, P. and Bates, S. McGraw-Hill. 2024.
Research Methods: A Process of Inquiry. 9th ed. Graziano, A. M. and Raulin, M. L. Pearson. 2020.
Research Methods in Psychology: Evaluating a World of Information. 4th ed. Morling, B. Norton. 2021.
American Psychological Association. Current edition. Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association. Current year.
 
Open Educational Resources (OER):
Research Methods in Psychology. 4th ed. Jhangiani, R. S. and Chiang, I-C.A. and Cuttler, C. and Leighton, D.C. https://kpu.pressbooks.pub/psychmethods4e/ Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial ShareAlike.

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